EXCLUSIVE: Brandon Wilson (Nickel Boys), model Soap Collins, and Aaron Holliday (Sharp Objects) are starring in Pockets of Heaven, the feature directorial debut of Maria Belafonte, granddaughter of Hollywood icon and civil rights trailblazer Harry Belafonte.
Joining the ensemble are Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave), along with Jonas Gindin (Lurker) and Gilberto Ortiz (Atropia). Making his feature acting debut in the film is rapper-musician Mavi.
Set against the backdrop of a Los Angeles wildfire evacuation, the film “follows three young people from vastly different worlds: a privileged runaway from rehab and two unhoused 20-somethings surviving in a burn zone. As their lives intertwine, the film explores the fragile boundaries between love, addiction, and survival in modern Los Angeles.”
The film, co-written by Belafonte and Alexander Zeke Musca with cinematography by Angel Barroeta, wrapped principal photography in December in Los Angeles.
Pic is produced by Sofie Hubbard Warshafsky with Glia Productions, as well as Maria Belafonte and Alexander Zeke Musca under their New Wrinkle Films banner. Serving as executive producers are Gina Belafonte with Sankofa.org and Jason Wiesenfeld.
The project was made in partnership with Help USA and with assistance from The People Concern to ensure authentic community engagement and representation of the unhoused stories it
depicts. Post production is due to be completed in summer of 2026.
Maria Belafonte graduated from New York University’s Gallatin School for Individualized Study. Her work includes music videos and commercials, and she is creative director of the nonprofit
organization Sankofa.org.